Mitsubishi Electric and Kobe University to Establish Industry-Academia Joint Course "Smart Sensing Course"
Mitsubishi Electric and Kobe University will establish a joint "Smart Sensing Course" in April 2026 to research and implement battery-less IoT sensors using energy harvesting.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 21:10
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (1h 46m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 06:38 (583h 42m after Collected)
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (hereinafter "Mitsubishi Electric") and Kobe University will establish an industry-academia joint course, the "Smart Sensing Course," on April 1, 2026, within the Kobe University Graduate School College of Systems and Informatics (CSI) (*2). The course aims to promote the research and development of next-generation systems combining sensing and energy harvesting technologies (*1) and achieve their social implementation. This course aims for the practical application of battery-less IoT sensors that do not require wiring or battery replacement. By enabling continuous data acquisition in the "field," such as in environmental monitoring, disaster prevention, and infrastructure maintenance, the course will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society by promoting digital transformation (DX) and creating new businesses.
To realize DX, it is essential to acquire and analyze field data, and sensing in diverse environments is required across cities, regions, and industrial sectors worldwide. However, in reality, there are many places where wiring is difficult when installing sensors, and frequent battery replacement after installation is unfeasible. Obtaining the necessary data timely and continuously is hindered by power supply constraints. To solve these issues, building a new system that integrates autonomous power supply to sensors and high-precision sensing is required.
Kobe University established CSI in April 2025 as a new academic hub emphasizing research activities and social implementation. Following this, Mitsubishi Electric and Kobe University will open their first-ever joint industry-academia course at CSI in April 2026. By combining Kobe University's community-rooted network with the technological capabilities of Mitsubishi Electric, which has research and business bases in Hyogo Prefecture, and by strengthening collaboration with local governments and companies, they will promote activities aimed at the social implementation of research results.
In this course, through research and development combining Kobe University's sensing technologies and Mitsubishi Electric's energy harvesting technologies, they will tackle the realization of sensing in previously difficult-to-install locations by building a mechanism for sensors to secure power autonomously. This will expand the application areas of sensors and accelerate DX in a wide range of fields, including environmental monitoring, disaster prevention, and infrastructure maintenance. Furthermore, they will proceed with practical, problem-solving-oriented research emphasizing applicability. By rapidly implementing PoCs (*3) for research and development results and building a reliable and smooth social implementation process based on verification results, they will create new businesses such as degradation diagnosis in infrastructure facilities and promote activities aimed at solving local social issues.
■ Overview of the Industry-Academia Joint Course
Name: Smart Sensing Course
Location: 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. Kobe University Graduate School College of Systems and Informatics (CSI)
To realize DX, it is essential to acquire and analyze field data, and sensing in diverse environments is required across cities, regions, and industrial sectors worldwide. However, in reality, there are many places where wiring is difficult when installing sensors, and frequent battery replacement after installation is unfeasible. Obtaining the necessary data timely and continuously is hindered by power supply constraints. To solve these issues, building a new system that integrates autonomous power supply to sensors and high-precision sensing is required.
Kobe University established CSI in April 2025 as a new academic hub emphasizing research activities and social implementation. Following this, Mitsubishi Electric and Kobe University will open their first-ever joint industry-academia course at CSI in April 2026. By combining Kobe University's community-rooted network with the technological capabilities of Mitsubishi Electric, which has research and business bases in Hyogo Prefecture, and by strengthening collaboration with local governments and companies, they will promote activities aimed at the social implementation of research results.
In this course, through research and development combining Kobe University's sensing technologies and Mitsubishi Electric's energy harvesting technologies, they will tackle the realization of sensing in previously difficult-to-install locations by building a mechanism for sensors to secure power autonomously. This will expand the application areas of sensors and accelerate DX in a wide range of fields, including environmental monitoring, disaster prevention, and infrastructure maintenance. Furthermore, they will proceed with practical, problem-solving-oriented research emphasizing applicability. By rapidly implementing PoCs (*3) for research and development results and building a reliable and smooth social implementation process based on verification results, they will create new businesses such as degradation diagnosis in infrastructure facilities and promote activities aimed at solving local social issues.
■ Overview of the Industry-Academia Joint Course
Name: Smart Sensing Course
Location: 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. Kobe University Graduate School College of Systems and Informatics (CSI)